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Barry Alan Bishop
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Barry Alan Bishop passed away following an aggressive battle with cancer for more than a year. He was born in Greeley the only child of Tilman “Tillie” and Pat Bishop.
He attended school through third grade in La Salle, and, after his parents moved to Grand Junction in the fall of 1962, he attended Tope Elementary School and Grand Junction Junior and Senior high schools.
After earning an associate in arts degree in humanities and geology at Mesa College, Barry worked for Union Oil Co. at the old Gilsonite plant in Fruita. The company moved its laboratory operation to Salt Lake City, where Barry headed up the lab facilities until its closing. He then entered the University of Utah, where he earned a BS degree in business and finance.
For more than 16 years, Barry enjoyed a successful career working as an industrial loss prevention engineer, property loss consultant — insurance broker, and property specialist in highly protected risk properties. His professional career entailed consulting with international insurance companies, insurance brokers, multi-national clients, engineering firms and fire protection jurisdictions. His employment required a high degree of emphasis on communication skills with foreign account officers, extensive travel and training others. On Oct. 31, 2007, while living in Chicago, Barry was diagnosed with cancer. He was working for Risk Logic Inc., a company headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, N.J. He worked in four Midwest states and several foreign countries. He returned to Grand Junction on July 3, 2008, to be closer to family and friends while continuing cancer treatment.
From 2002-04 Barry attended Mesa State College earning a BA degree in secondary education with a major in history. He was licensed in Colorado to teach his discipline and social studies. Unfortunately, Barry never employed his teaching skills. Many of his former faculty members, peers and friends commented that he would have been an excellent teacher because of his love for sharing his knowledge and world traveling experiences with his students and others.
Throughout his life, Barry was a very independent individual; he enjoyed being with people. His close friends were very important and meaningful to him as an extended family. For those who knew Barry, they knew he was a genuinely caring person; he would do anything he could for others when they needed assistance and comfort.
Barry grew up loving the challenges of new adventures, whether gourmet cooking, studying different philosophies and cultures, reading, writing poetry, traveling or engaging in outdoor activities. He had a very curious mind, always asking questions followed by more questions. He was very methodical and meticulous in keeping detailed records. Barry was loved deeply by those who had the opportunity of knowing and spending time with him. He will be greatly missed by his mom, dad, therapist, Buddy his dog, extended family and friends.
On behalf of their loving son, Barry Alan Bishop, Pat and Tillie thank all our friends for helping us through this very difficult time. Without your love and prayers, it would have been hard to deal with the emptiness and sadness in our lives.
Pat and Tillie extend an extra special thanks to Dr. Richard Knop, nurse Grace Mungy (Chicago), Terry and Suzi Sheppard, Don and Pat Morehouse, Ernie and Denise Colunga, Priscilla Mangnall and members of her family, Alan Workman, the Rev. Blaine Scott, all of the doctors and nurses St. Mary’s Hospital who Barry managed to “piss off” at one time or another, the Hospice doctors, nurses and staff for their care and comfort, and everyone who called, sent cards, prayed, or stopped by to visit Barry during his illness.
Barry was married twice, to Connie Alexander and Estalee Ritsche. The marriages ended in divorce. There were no children. His fraternal and maternal grandparents preceded Barry in death. He is survived by uncle O. Fred Bishop Jr., of Colorado Springs, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Barry Bishop will be held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Grand Junction, followed by a celebration reception in Barry’s memory at The Art Center, 1803 N. Seventh St., Grand Junction.
Friends are encouraged to write down some happy memories that can be placed in a
scrapbook and shared with his family and friends.
Cremation preceded the service, and inurement will follow sometime this spring.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Barry A. Bishop Scholarship
Fund, Mesa State College Foundation, 1450 N. 12th St., Grand Junction, CO 81506 or Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, PO Box 60307, Grand Junction, CO 81506.
He attended school through third grade in La Salle, and, after his parents moved to Grand Junction in the fall of 1962, he attended Tope Elementary School and Grand Junction Junior and Senior high schools.
After earning an associate in arts degree in humanities and geology at Mesa College, Barry worked for Union Oil Co. at the old Gilsonite plant in Fruita. The company moved its laboratory operation to Salt Lake City, where Barry headed up the lab facilities until its closing. He then entered the University of Utah, where he earned a BS degree in business and finance.
For more than 16 years, Barry enjoyed a successful career working as an industrial loss prevention engineer, property loss consultant — insurance broker, and property specialist in highly protected risk properties. His professional career entailed consulting with international insurance companies, insurance brokers, multi-national clients, engineering firms and fire protection jurisdictions. His employment required a high degree of emphasis on communication skills with foreign account officers, extensive travel and training others. On Oct. 31, 2007, while living in Chicago, Barry was diagnosed with cancer. He was working for Risk Logic Inc., a company headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, N.J. He worked in four Midwest states and several foreign countries. He returned to Grand Junction on July 3, 2008, to be closer to family and friends while continuing cancer treatment.
From 2002-04 Barry attended Mesa State College earning a BA degree in secondary education with a major in history. He was licensed in Colorado to teach his discipline and social studies. Unfortunately, Barry never employed his teaching skills. Many of his former faculty members, peers and friends commented that he would have been an excellent teacher because of his love for sharing his knowledge and world traveling experiences with his students and others.
Throughout his life, Barry was a very independent individual; he enjoyed being with people. His close friends were very important and meaningful to him as an extended family. For those who knew Barry, they knew he was a genuinely caring person; he would do anything he could for others when they needed assistance and comfort.
Barry grew up loving the challenges of new adventures, whether gourmet cooking, studying different philosophies and cultures, reading, writing poetry, traveling or engaging in outdoor activities. He had a very curious mind, always asking questions followed by more questions. He was very methodical and meticulous in keeping detailed records. Barry was loved deeply by those who had the opportunity of knowing and spending time with him. He will be greatly missed by his mom, dad, therapist, Buddy his dog, extended family and friends.
On behalf of their loving son, Barry Alan Bishop, Pat and Tillie thank all our friends for helping us through this very difficult time. Without your love and prayers, it would have been hard to deal with the emptiness and sadness in our lives.
Pat and Tillie extend an extra special thanks to Dr. Richard Knop, nurse Grace Mungy (Chicago), Terry and Suzi Sheppard, Don and Pat Morehouse, Ernie and Denise Colunga, Priscilla Mangnall and members of her family, Alan Workman, the Rev. Blaine Scott, all of the doctors and nurses St. Mary’s Hospital who Barry managed to “piss off” at one time or another, the Hospice doctors, nurses and staff for their care and comfort, and everyone who called, sent cards, prayed, or stopped by to visit Barry during his illness.
Barry was married twice, to Connie Alexander and Estalee Ritsche. The marriages ended in divorce. There were no children. His fraternal and maternal grandparents preceded Barry in death. He is survived by uncle O. Fred Bishop Jr., of Colorado Springs, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Barry Bishop will be held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Grand Junction, followed by a celebration reception in Barry’s memory at The Art Center, 1803 N. Seventh St., Grand Junction.
Friends are encouraged to write down some happy memories that can be placed in a
scrapbook and shared with his family and friends.
Cremation preceded the service, and inurement will follow sometime this spring.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Barry A. Bishop Scholarship
Fund, Mesa State College Foundation, 1450 N. 12th St., Grand Junction, CO 81506 or Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, PO Box 60307, Grand Junction, CO 81506.
